Guy Stanley Philoche with his painting “‘JUMP” in his “Give Us Our Flowers” collection.
Acclaimed visual artist Guy Stanley Philoche was at the Bruce Lurie Gallery on February 24, for an exhibition of “Give Us Our Flowers.” The paintings will be at the gallery through March 18.
This is his first-time exhibiting art in Pacific Palisades, but the popular Haitian artist has known Lurie for about 15 years.
“We’ve been at art fairs,” Philoche said, but finally, “six months ago, he said I like these a lot.”
His new collection, “Give Us Our Flowers,” features historical icons like James Baldwin and Jackie Robinson, culture shifters like Lena Waithe and the late Virgil Abloh, and everyday people.
The collection was shown at the LA ART SHOW convention center from February 14 to 18 and was extremely successful, so much so that Lurie told him “Don’t sell everything, so we have something for the exhibition.”
Lurie said, “I’ve been following his works for about ten years now. We’ve also become good friends, though I only really see him at art fairs.
“I’m so impressed with this new body of work he’s developed over the past few years,” Lurie said. “The work captures the everyday life of African American kids and youth that always put a smile on my face. His photorealistic playful scenes are provocative and enlightening, always portraying positivity in daily life activities.”
Living in New York City in East Harlem, Philoche came to the United States from Haiti with his family when he was five years old. “I couldn’t speak the language,” Phiolche said, adding that he was an awkward kid. “I found my voice through art.”
His parents like many immigrants wanted their son to be a lawyer, doctor or engineer.
When he told them he wanted to go to art school after high school, his mom told him they wouldn’t pay for it.
Undeterred, he went to Paier College of Art in Bridgeport Connecticut and then Yale, where he received his master’s degree. He moved to New York with a duffle bag and $5,000, and continued painting, enjoying success.
“New York’s been good to me, and I have this amazing career,” Philoche told CTN. “So, I decided to do something nice for myself and buy this beautiful Rolex.”
While he was trying the watch on, he kept thinking about how lucky he had been, but also about other artists. It was then he came up with his philosophy “Sell a painting. Buy a painting.” Instead of a Rolex, he decided to buy art from new artists.
As people had become trapped during Covid and artists were struggling, in 2020 Philoche offered on social media to purchase art.
He spent more than $250,000 on art, helping other artists, whose shows were cancelled across the country/world.
“I buy art from living artists, the dead ones don’t need the money,” he said.
In the process, he has accumulated two storage lockers of art. There are about 400 pieces, which he says he rotates different through his home, the “Philoche Collection.”
His current show is described as “textured paintings that blend abstract realism with pops of pop art, embodying the vibrance of New York City and the warmth of Caribbean themes.”
Lurie adds, “His photorealistic scenes are provocative and enlightening, always portraying positivity.”
Why are there flowers at the bottom of the oil/acrylic paintings? We give flowers for the dead, but we need to remember the living, he explained to CTN. “It’s all about celebrating and acknowledging us while we’re still alive,” Philoche said.
The gallery is located at 873 Via de la Paz, (424)-330-0122 https://www.luriegallery.com/
Guy Stanley Philoche’s “The Diver, ” painted with oil, acrylic, spray paint.